The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-16

OIIRiuhl OIL.
Mr.. Lindsay called for the reading
OF the minority report.
This minority report was signed by
Messrs. Lindsay, Mccall, McElwee,
Littleton and Gamble of Davidson, all
Republicans.
Mr.. Lindsay said that If the major
ity of this House wished to go on with
legislation they had better defer or in
definitely postpone this question.
While the Republicans had shown
their willingness to participate in all
needed legislation, they bad also
shown that when an injustice was at
tempted his side Of the house had
some "mule" in il. Mr.. Lindsay
claimed that II the Democratic ma sjor-
i'y bad the power to pass this bill,
they had no need to pass it.
Judge Williams addressed the
House IN support of his bill. He said
that if he had before felt disposed to
PISS this matter over he certainly
wou d not be willing to do 60 ulder
menace. If the Republicans wanted
to bolt let them do 30. Mr.. Williams
d discussed the bill from constitutional
sta dpoint. He said that the consti.
tuition authorized the General Assem-
bly, to compel ty law the attendance
OF absent members. The two thirds
provision Of the constitution plainly
meant tina. two-thirds should cons.i-
tute houss to do business, and that
with two thirds present in the House,
tifty-one votes would pass any meas.
ure. He reminded the Republicans
Of their intimation when the Buch-
anan resolution YVES up up that they
would suppoIt his bill.
Mr.. Lindssy said that they had sup.
posed that this bill wss fair one, and
if it had proven 30 they would have
supported it.
Mr.. johnson urged Democrats not
to allow the threats of the minority to
prevent them passing this bill. He
wss not afraid of, Republican bolt.
A few might leave, but most OF them
would sit in their seats, and if they
did this bill would pass. He believed
that the promise to support this bill
made by some OF thesother side was
made TO stave of the matter, and was
made 10 be broken.
Mr.. Fair wanted to know if the gen.
tleman meant to charge false dealing
upon the Republican members OF the
House.
Mr.. johnson said that he believed
and hoped their leader, or he who
at least aspired to be their leader, did
not really represent all Of his party.
Mr.. Mccall, speaking against the
bill, especially objected 10 that portion
which made the breaking of quorum
by members misdemeanor and an in
dictable offense.
Mr.. Cooper asked Mr.. Mccall il he
would support the bill If that portion
Of the bill was stricken out.
Mr.. Mccall said that he could not
speak for the other Republicans on
this floor, but he for one would not
vote for it with this feature stricken
out; he would not vote for any meas.
ure which proposed to deny him the
privilege Of not voting, and thus de-
festing mischievous and unjust lesis-
lation. He contended that the right of
a respectable minority of one.third to
use this means was provided for by the
provision of the constitution making
two.thirds quorum.
Mr.. Fort spoke in support OF the
bill, and reminded Mr.. Lindsay of his
made during the contest
over the Buchanan resolution. that he
was favorably disposed toward the
passage of a bill carrying out the in
tent of the constitution. Mr.. Fort
for the right OF the majori-
ty to enact such legislation as they
deemed proper. He said that the
State had already suffered the break
ing up of one Legislature on account
of the absence Of such law as this
bill sought to enact.
Mr.. Lindsay, rising to question OF
privilege, replying to the structures OF
Mr.. Johnson, said that he had never
attempted to speak for any Republi-
can but himself; that he would be
willing to have his integrity COM
pared with that gentleman, and ex-
planned that be had said that he would
vote for bill to carry out the spirit
Of the constitution upon this matter,
but he maintained that this bill did
not propose to carry out the spirit of
5he constitution
The previous question was called,
on Mr.. Hurst's motion to postpone
until March 25:h, which motion was
lost-yeas, 80; nays, 40.
Judge Williams accepted the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Cooper striking
out the misdemeanor provision, and
moved the previous question on the
passage OF the bill.
The call for the previous question
was not sustained-yeas, 80; nays, 45.
Mr.. Hanna moved that the bill, with
its amendments, 60 to the table.
Mr.. Williams, OF Franklin, under
the rules, closed the debate in favor of
the bill. He explained that all that
was proposed in this bill was that the
of the members could be
enforced, and that two.thirds being
present in the hall any measure might
be passed by majority OF the total
membership. There was no provision
in the constitution that two-thirds
must be voting to pass a measure, but
there was provision providing that
q bill must secure, in order to pass, q
vote of a maj jority OF the membership.
The roll was then called on the mo-
ton to table the bill as amended. Lost
yeas, 81 nays, so.
Adjourned until 2 o'clock pm.
AFTERNOON SESSION.